Cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar was killed more than two decades ago, but one of the last surviving members of Escobar’s ultra-violent Medellin cartel just became a free man. The release of John Jairo Velásquez, who left prison on August 19, has sparked controversy in Colombia.

What is at stake in the ongoing Syrian civil war? Enough that the US is considering increasing its role in supporting the rebels — perhaps providing direct military support and training. Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Pope Francis says he might consider allowing priests to marry, while Belgium considers the possibility a hitman was behind an attack on a Jewish museum this weekend. That and more in today's Global Scan.

Al Capone is a big tourist attraction in Chicago. He's on tours, trinkets and t-shirts. So what do Colombian immigrants make of the prospect of their public enemy number one, Pablo Escobar, becoming a tourist industry?

In the past few years, Medellin, Colombia has seemingly been transformed from a blighted haven for drug trafficking to an award-winning place of smart urban design. The man who gets a lot of the credit for that is the former mayor, Sergio Fajardo.

Colombia was wracked with violence during the era of the Escobar drug cartel. And while the cartel has been curtailed, regular street violence persists. Now, arts groups are trying to give youth an alternative path to the future.

Colombia's second largest city was once dominated by the drug cartel of Pablo Escobar. Crime remains high. Which is why several groups in the city are determined to provide peaceful alternatives for young people through art and music.

In the past few years, Medellin, Colombia has seemingly been transformed from a blighted haven for drug trafficking to an award-winning place of smart urban design. The man who gets a lot of the credit for that is the former mayor, Sergio Fajardo.

Colombia was wracked with violence during the era of the Escobar drug cartel. And while the cartel has been curtailed, regular street violence persists. Now, arts groups are trying to give youth an alternative path to the future.

Al Capone is a big tourist attraction in Chicago. He's on tours, trinkets and t-shirts. So what do Colombian immigrants make of the prospect of their public enemy number one, Pablo Escobar, becoming a tourist industry?

What is at stake in the ongoing Syrian civil war? Enough that the US is considering increasing its role in supporting the rebels — perhaps providing direct military support and training. Meanwhile, Roman Catholic Pope Francis says he might consider allowing priests to marry, while Belgium considers the possibility a hitman was behind an attack on a Jewish museum this weekend. That and more in today's Global Scan.

Cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar was killed more than two decades ago, but one of the last surviving members of Escobar’s ultra-violent Medellin cartel just became a free man. The release of John Jairo Velásquez, who left prison on August 19, has sparked controversy in Colombia.

Authorities in Colombia have been fighting an effective battle against drug traffickers. Police have confiscated thousands of assets for use as evidence in court. But John Otis reports from Bogota that keeping track of everything has proved impossible.